Page 162 of Black Sea

The Spirits granted me all their extraordinary magic, and the next moment, I aimed the weapon at the river.

A notched jet of glass shot from my sword with a shrill sound, but before crashing into the impetuous scarlet surface, it swerved upward and widened, forming a broad, arched bridge without railings.

Mornon’s stallion reared up with a powerful neigh and lunged forward, his hooves pounding on the glass.

Once we reached the opposite bank, I tried to stop or redirect the horse to help the humans fleeing from the terrifying creatures, but the animal refused to obey. So, I swung my sword overhead, releasing another stream of glass that pierced many of the beasts near the Glawar, trapping them in ground-embedded palisades.

“Run toward the bridge!” I shouted at the humans in the common tongue, hoping they would reach it before the monsters roaming the plain, emitting terrible roars, caught them.

Because, despite what I had told him, my father was not leading the army in the Kingdom of Men.

Furious, I was about to jump off the stallion to kill every single creature myself when the thunderous noise of dozens of hooves crossing the glass bridge echoed across the plain.

I turned, and a smile pulled at my lips as I watched the elven army fan out into the Kingdom of Men, rescuing wounded mortals and taking them to safety in our land while eliminating hungry monsters.

Mornon’s steed quickened his pace further, causing the ground to seem like it was exploding beneath us with each powerful stride. I squeezed my knees to remain on the horse’s back as the wind whipped past my face, making my eyes water while we covered miles and miles of scorched land.

When we reached Leukós’ high gates, the animal stopped abruptly, and I quickly dismounted . . .

Landing on a thin layer of snow.

Startled, I turned back to see the summer sun shining over my kingdom, beyond the blackened fields and hills. Then I looked ahead and raised my gaze: Inside the city, snow was falling in tiny flakes.

Frowning, I tightened my grip on my sword’s hilt and crossed the gates.

The first thing that struck me like a slap in the face was the unmistakable smell of blood and innards lingering between the streets. Gingerly, I moved forward along the broad main street, horrified by the bright red splashes that smeared the walls of houses and by the quartered corpses peeking through broken doors or hanging from windowsills with their sashes ripped off.

Although I didn’t see them, I knew that Mornon’s beasts were all around: I could hear them munching pulpy flesh and gnawing on the bones of their victims.

I strained to hear a heartbeat amidst the tremendous chewing, a frantic breath, or a terrified whimper. But I didn’t catch anything.

There was no one left to save.

They were all dead.

Ire surged within me like a hurricane, and before I knew it, I found myself screaming, “ Mornon!”

His creatures emitted deafening guttural noises, but they did not appear. Nor did their lord. So, I kept shouting his name, and shouting, and shouting, the slippery white-and-vermilion blanket creaking under my boots as I avoided stepping on severed hands or some children’s small legs, my breath forming gray clouds as I advanced toward the top of the capital.

Upon reaching a square bordered by majestic temples, imposing colonnaded buildings, and villas, I paused in the center and angrily gazed at the grand staircase leading to the royal palace.

“Mornon!” I erupted. “Show yourself!”

Little by little, his monsters came out, perching on the flat rooftops and balconies of the luxurious homes or lurking at alley entrances or on thresholds. The blackish drool along their saber teeth was so corrosive that snow sizzled beneath where it dripped.

Even though they had no eyes, I had a burning feeling that Mornon was watching me through them.

Like a predator waiting in the shadows.

“ Mornon!” I roared again.

The beasts hissed. I stayed on guard, believing they were about to attack me. Instead, they didn’t move, limiting themselves to growling at me as if trying to make me realize something.

Something I eventually understood.

I lowered my sword and closed my eyes, letting out an annihilated sigh. I felt like my heart had just fallen into an endless well. “Amlach,” I breathed.

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